CyberReady@teex.tamu.edu | 800.541.7149

2019 TEEX Cyber Innovation Camp

Thank you so much for hosting this camp! I loved the opportunity to program in such an exciting environment and hear from people that work in the field. It was phenomenal exposure!” -Rosetta Wang Camp participant

Most people think of software as being something we use on our computers to create a document, answer an email, browse the Internet or play a game. All of these programs control what happens in the computer.

The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s (TEEX) Cyber Innovation Camp shows students that programming and software can do so much more. The ultimate goal of the camp is to encourage students to pursue careers in computer science, engineering or cybersecurity.

During the week-long day camp held at TEEX Headquarters, students use the Python programming language and Raspberry Pi computers to control lights and robotic cars, create music, monitor motion, distance, temperature and humidity, assign actions to buttons, switches and even train a camera for facial recognition.

Through facilitation and hands-on activities, students are introduced to the power of programming and encouraged to explore and experiment with a multitude of sensors and electronics and think outside the box to apply these skills and technologies. Guest speakers from Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and TEEX introduce the students to engineering design, real-world applications of the skills they are learning, and cybersecurity concepts such as secure programming, social engineering and Wi-Fi spoofing.

Each student is provided with a Raspberry Pi computer kit, mouse, sensors, and electronics to use throughout the camp. This kit is theirs to take home so they can continue to explore and experiment with the concepts taught during the camp.